Rail-fastener.



I. ROMO & P. D. BITTER.

RAIL FASTENER.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 4, 1911.

1,084,035. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Show 15' COLUMBIA PLmoclAFH (ID-.WASHIRGTQN. D4 6.

I. ROMO & P. D. BITTER.

RAIL FASTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 4, 1911.

1,084,035, Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHIN|JTDN. D. c.

lllNliTE l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISIDORO ROMO AND FREDERICK D. BITTER, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

RAIL-FASTENER.

ostess.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Ismono R0110, a citizen of Mexico, and FREDERICK DIETRICI-I Ri'r- TER, a citizen of the United States, both residing at the city of Mexico, Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means for securely fastening rails to cross ties or sleepers such as are used in railway construction, said means being such as will hold the rail in its position on the cross tie or sleeper true to gage, efiectually prevent ing either lateral or longitudinal movement of the rail and without the use of lugs, wedges or spikes. This object is accomplished by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of a metal cross tie or sleeper showing the rail hearing or seat and the position of the fastening clips, Fig. 2, a View of the under side of the fastening clip, Fig. 3 is a side view of a fastening clip attached by a rivet to a metal cross tie or sleeper, Fig. 4 shows a portion of a metal cross tie or sleeper with the rail in position and the clips set for holding the rail in place, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the cross tie or sleeper and the fastening clips, showing the rail in cross section, taken on the line XX of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a modification of the device as applied to cross ties of wood, Fig. 7 showing the application of the device to cross ties of cement or concrete, and Fig. 8, the plate with serrated projections or teeth for cross ties of wood or of concrete.

Similar reference numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

At a proper distance on each side of the rail bearing or seat 1, of a metal cross tie or sleeper, 2, and adapted to the desired gage of the track, serrated projections or teeth, 3, are stamped in two series in the form of part of a sector, these series of projections or teeth being located radially to the center of a bolt or rivet 4 passing through the cross tie or sleeper 2, and which secures to said cross tie or sleeper a metal fastener or clip 5, the said series of serrated projections or teeth 8 being diametrically opposed to each other and on the proper angle from the rail Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 4, 1911.

Patented Jan. 13,1914.

Serial No. 658,575.

6 to be fastened as may be required. The clip or fastening 5 which is riveted to the metal cross tie or sleeper 2, which is preferably rhomboidal in horizontal section, is also provided on its under side with two series of serrated projections or teeth, 7 forming two sections of a circular ratchet diametrically opposed to each other and located on either side of the center of said clip or fastening. These serrated projections or teeth are of identical form and size to those stamped in the cross tie 2, and so arranged that in turning the metal clip 5 around the center of the holding bolt or rivet 4, which passes through the hole or opening 4', the two sections of serrated projections or teeth 3 in the cross tie or sleeper 2, will engage and firmly tit and interlock with the two series of serrated projections or teeth 7 in the under side of the metal clip or fastening 5.

The serrated projections or teeth in both the metal cross tie and in the clip or fastening are formed at such an angle on one face that when the clip or fastening 5 is turned in one direction, they will, by reason of the elasticity of the metals in contact or the clearance between the surfaces of the cross tie and the clip permitted by the holding bolt or rivet, slide over each other, but they are so formed on the opposite face and at such an angle that they will lock and prevent the clip or fastening being turned in the other direction. The said clip or fastening 5, of metal is recessed at both extremities thus forming a lip or projection 8 on the upper side and a vertical bearingsurface 9, parallel with the end of the clip, in the recessed or lower side, formed in such manner that when the clip or fastener 5 is parallel to the rail 6, said vertical bearing surface shall lie angularly to the longitudinal face of the rail base 10.

When the metal clip or fastening 5 is turned from a parallel position to the rail 6 in the proper direction around its axis, which is the holding bolt or rivet 4, the serrated projections or teeth 7, in the clip or fastening 5, and the corresponding serrated projections or teeth 3 in the cross tie or sleeper 2, are forced over each other until the upper lip or projection 8 of the clip 5, rides over the base of the rail 10, and the lower vertical surface 9 of the said clip or fastening which is formed at each extremity of the clip to lie angularly to the longitudinal face of the rail base 10 when the clip is parallel to the rail, now comes in contact with the face of the rail base and such angular contact prevents its being farther turned in the direction which the engaging serrated teeth or interlocking projections permit such movement, and the said interlocking angular teeth prevent the said clip or fastening being reversed or moved backward owing to their shape, thus forming an effective lock and securing the rail 6 to the cross tie or sleeper 2 in such manner that no stress or vibration may loosen its hold on the rail and making it necessary to remove the rivet or holding bolt 1 in order to loosen the clip or fas tening 5 after it has been turned around in the proper direction over the engaging teeth, to a firm contact with the rail base.

The clip or fastening 5 is provided with a lip or projection 8 and also a vertical bearing surface 9, at each end. It, will also be seen that the distance from the center of the holding bolt or rivet 4, to the vertical bearing surface 9 Fig. 2, is greater at one end of the clip than at the other end, the object being to provide means whereby the same clip or fastening may be used to obtain the 4: foot 871- inch gage on tangents by using one end of the clip, and in case a slightly more open gage is desired, as, for example: on curves, the other ends of the clips or fastenings may be used.

The serrated projections or teeth herein referred to need not exceed 1 3 of an inch in height although if desired, that height may be increased. If for any reason it is desired to remove the tie after it has been in service, it may be accomplished by cutting the head of the holding bolt or rivet that holds the clip, and the tie may again be used by simply renewing the said holding bolt or rivet. .f it is desired to change the section of the rail the same ties may be of service again, it being only necessary to change the dimensions of the clip or fastening so that it will make a perfect lit with the base of the rail. The thickness of the metal in the clip or fastening and the size of the holding belt or rivet can be adapted to meet any requirement in regard to strength, or specified section of rail.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8, show a modification of this invention in the method of fastening a rail to cross ties of wood, cement or concrete. Saving to the impracticability of stamping the serrated project-ions or teeth in either of the materials mentioned, these are stamped in a metal plate 12, Fig. 8, sufficiently wide and long to provide a rail bearing as well as a space for the stamping of the serrated projections or teeth, the said plate 12 being let into the upper surface of the said tie. In thecase of awoodencross tie, 11, Fig. 6, the plate 12 is let into the wood on the upper surface of the tie so that the upper surface of the said plate is flush with the surface of the tie, the clip or fastening 5 is then placed thereon with its sides parallel to the end of the tie 11 and the clip 5 and plate 12 are then secured to the tie by a holding bolt or rivet, 1, passing through the hole 4: and entirely through the tie, but preferably by a lag screw 13, Fig. 6, as the latter, which may not pass completely through the tie, reduces the liability of the tie to rot. In the case of a cross tie of cement or concrete 1 1, Fig. 7, the plate 12 is let into the surface of the tie in proper position as hereinbefore described, the clip 5 placed thereon with its sides parallel to the rail seat or bearing 1, the clip 5, and the plate 12 being secured to the cross tie by the holding bolts or rivets 15 which pass entirely through said clip and plate and the cross tie 14. The plate 12 is set in the upper surface of the tie 1 1 while the cement or concrete is in a. plastic state, thus rendering the operation a very simple one. When the cross ties come from the factory or the place where they are made or assembled, the clip fastenings 5 are bolted or riveted in place with their sides parallel to the ends of the tie, and may be turned into place by either using a wrench, or by driving the clip with a hammer until the vertical bearing surface in the recess in the end of the clip set-s firmly against the face of the rail base.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is the following:

1. A rail fastener, comprising in combination, a rail base, a rail bearing for said base, and means pivotally secured to said rail bearing in position to bind said rail base against movement on said bearing, the pivot being of a form to prevent removal of the binding means without destroying the pivot, said binding means consisting of clips having a limited amount of vertical play, ratchet teeth on the bottom of each clip and corresponding ratchet teeth formed on said rail bearing in opposition to said first mentioned teeth, said two sets of teeth being formed to permit rotation of said clips in one direction by reason of said vertical play and to prevent rotation of said clips in the opposite direction.

2. A rail fastener, comprising in combination a rail base, a rail bearing, clips pivotally secured to said bearing and having a limited amount of vertical play, the pivot being of a form to prevent removal of the binding means without destroying the pivot, said clips consisting of body portions having end bearing faces formed at acute angles to the sides of said body port-ion and lips overhanging said bearing faces in sub- In testimony whereof We have afiixed our stantially parallel relation thereto and opsignatures in presence of two Witnesses. posing sets of ratchet teeth formed on said ISIDORO ROMO.

clip and said bearing, said teeth each hav- FREDERICK D. BITTER. ing a vertical and an inclined side and be- Witnesses:

ing less in height than half the amount of C. E. GUYANT,

said vertical play of said clip. G. A. GUERRA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G. 

